Apparatus for blowing wells



Aug. 7, 1934. G. A. HuM'AsoN 74 APPARATUS FOR BLOWING WELLS Filed Aug. 28, 1953 12 v 8 Fl' 21/ 3 /8 F -FIS.1.

9- 9 QAHumaaon 3mm fab g u fibm g AZfiIZIfi L Patented Aug. 7, 1934 Q UNITED smas' 1.969.114 a arrm'rus Fo'a nLowinG warns" Q I i y Granville Bumuon, Houston, Tex.

Application August as, 1933, Serial No. 687,140

Claims. (Cl. 103-232) My invention relates to control valves to be employed in blowing wells .with air or gas to raisethe liquid therefrom- In order to employ the air .or gas to raise the 5 liquid already standing in the well, it is now common to employ control valves arranged at dii- Ierent levels along the tube to admit the pressure fluid first at an 'upper stage and then at successively lower stages until the air or gas; .10 may enter the lower endoi the tubing and continually'blow the well from the lower end of the tube. By so doing, it is possible with a compara-v tively low air or gas pressure to raise the liquid from the well.

16 It is an object of invention to provide a control valve for the purpose stated which will operate accurately to remain open until the liquid level has passed below the level of the valve and to then closev so that no more ofthe pressure fluid may enter at that level.

It is a further object to provide means whereby the liquid above the opening in the eduction tube may be prevented from flowing backwardly toward the lower end of the well and to thus take the pressure of the head of liquid oil the lower end 01 the well.

It is a further object to provide aparticular construction of lower valve through. which the air may continuously blow after the head of 0 liquid in thetube has been started in its flow from the well.

In the drawing herewith Fig. 1 is a central, longitudinal section through a well casing showing therein a valve embodying my'invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the well casing is shown at 1.

I The well tubing 2 therein has at intervals along its length, a series of housings 3 connected in the tubing and having therein a control valve for regulating the admission of air to the tubing at that level.

In the.drawing the housing 3 is connected at its upper end to the tube 2, and at its lower end is connected with a lower section of tubing 2'. The interior of the housing 3 is divided by a partition 4 into an upper chamber 5 and a lower valve chamber 6.

The lower valve chamber is annular in shape and has a central mandrel 7 extending therethrough. Said mandrel has a central passage 8 extending longitudinally thereof, and projects above the partition 4 into which it fits closely. r Its upper end projects into the chamber 5 and has thereon a valve housing 9 which serves to ,1 and at the center portion 01 Fig. 2 extending secure a valve seat 10 iniposition at the upper end of the mandrel and provides a seat for the ball valve 11. The lower end of the post or mandrel 7 is threaded for engagement within the lower block 12 of the housing. I g

In the chamber 6 there is a ring valve 13 which flts .within ang'annular tapered seat 14 in said chamber. Said valve serves to close the upper outlet from passages 15 through which the pressure fluid may enter into the passage 8 5 through the mandrel. There are a plurality of such passages 15 adapted to be controlled by the ring valve 13. Said valve has a float member .16 thereon which extends upwardly to, a point spaced slightly below the partitioni and 7 acts when the' valve is submerged to hold the valve upwardly spaced away from its seat.

The lateral walls of the Q amberb are perforated with openings l'l'which'aliow entrance of fluid to the said chamber.

The block 12 which closes the lower end of the housing 3 has below the chamber 6 a par-" tition 18 into which the mandrel is threaded as previously noted. Below this partition is a valve chamber 19 in the lower end of which is a seat 20 for a ball valve 21 which prevents the backward passage of fluid into the well. 1

As will be noted in the drawing, there are passages indicated by dotted lines at 22 in Fig.

longitudinally of the mandrel from the valve chamber 19 upwardly into the chamber 5 where,

they discharge laterally at 23 into'sald chamber. These passages allow fluid from the well' to be conducted upwardly past the control valve into the tubing above. 3

When this deviceiiflused in the well.- the tubing will be positioned with the control valve submerged below the level or the liquid in the well. 11 air or gas pressure is exerted upon :the liquid in the well and between the casing and the tubing, it will tend to force the liquid through the opening 17 and past the valve 13 which will be raised due to its submergence in the liquid. The liquid will then pass into the central passage 8 and past the valve 11 up wardly into the tubing. As the liquid level is depressed, gas will finally enter before the closing of the valve and aerate the column of liquid above. As the level of liquid reaches a'polnt approximately adjacent the lower end of the float the valve will gradually be lowered into its seat and eventually cut off the flow of fluid into the tubing: The continued pressure of the gas in the casing will depress the head of liquid 110 and force said liquid through the next-lower valve. At the extreme lower end of the tubing, the float may be omitted and I have shown at 24 a'valve housing for positioning such lower end of the eduction .tube. This housing has therein a valve chamber 25, the lower end of which is closed by the head 26. Passages indicated at 27in dotted lines extend longitudinally through the head for connection with the valve chamber 28 at the lower end thereof. Centrally of the head is a passage 29 longitudinally of the head, which connects at its lowerv end with lateral passages 30 extending to the outside and connecting with the space between the tube and the housing. I

At the upper end of the passage 29 is a valve seat 31 adapted to be closed by a ball valve'32 whose upward movement is limited by a transverse pin 33. v

The valve chamber 28 hasa valve seat 34 at its lower end upon which is seated the ball valve 35. At the lower end of the head 26 is connected a nipple 36 which is in turn connected to the upper end 37 of an inlet pipe or screen through which the liquid may enter the tubing.

It will be obvious that when the liquid level has been depressed to the point indicated by the passage 30, the air will blowin through the passage 29 and servecontinuously to raise the liquid upwardly in the tube. The liquid will enter through the valve chamber 28 and the passages 27 through the housing and around the valve chamber housing the valve 32. The air flowing upwardly through the central passage will have an injector etlect to cause a continuous flow of air or gas and liquid upwardly in the tubing.

It is to be understood that the control valves such as are employed along the length of the tubing will only be of use in starting the well to flow, and will avoid the use of a heavy pressure upon the gaseous fluid to start the well operating. In cases where the well is idle at frequent intervals valves of this character are a practical necessity and the particular structure of valve disclosed herein has various advantages which have been previously noted.

This valve will operate accurately to stay open until the level of liquid has been depressed below the valve and will then close and prevent the entrance of further pressure fluid at that level. -It is an accurate and reliable control improvement and will not tend to get out of order or wear in use.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for blowing wells comprising a well tubing. blowing attachments arranged at intervals along sa-id tubing, comprising coupling in said tubing, each coupling allowing a passage of fluid therethrough and forming a housing, upper and lower chambers'therein, said lower chamber being perforated, a longitudinal tube connecting said chambers, a valve closing the upper end of said tube, a float valve adapted, when not submerged, to close connection between said lower chamber and said tube, and separate channels in the walls of said tube connecting the tubing below said housing with said upper chamber.

2. An apparatus for blowing wells comprising a well tubing, blowing attachments arranged at difl'erent levels along said tubing, each attachment comprising couplings in said tubing, each coupling allowing a passage of fluid therethrough and forming a housing, upper and lower chambers therein, said lower chamber having openings to the outside, a central tube connecting said chambers, a valve at the upper end of said tube,

,means adapted when not submerged to close the connection between said lower chamber and said tube and means allowing passage of. fluid from below said housing to said upper chamber.

3. An apparatus for blowing wells comprising a well tubing, blowing attachments arranged at 'different levels along said tubing, each attachment comprising couplings in said tubing, each coupling allowing a passage of fluid therethrough and forming a housing, upper and lower chambers therein, said lower chamber having openings to the outside, a tube connecting said chambers, means to prevent movement of fluid in said tube, means adapted to close the connection between said chambers when said chambers are not submerged, and separate channels connecting the tubing below said housing with said upper chamber.

4. An apparatus for blowing wells, comprising a well tubing, blowing attachments comprising tubular couplings arranged at intervals along said tubing and forming a passage for fluid, said attachments. above the bottom of the well comprising automatically closing inlets for fluid under pressure to said tubing, said attachments at the bottom of the well comprising an opening from outside said tubing through the interior thereof, and a valve preventing the flow of fluid out-t wardly from said passage in the manner described.

5. An apparatus for blowing wells comprising a tubing, a blower attachment spaced below the upper end of said tubing having a valve closed passage therethrough, said attachment forming a part of said tubing, means for closing the outlet of liquid from below said passage, means to force fluid from without the tubing inthrough said blower and up through said tubing and float operated means to close the inlet of fluid into saidattachment.

GRANVILLE. A. HUMASONV 

